| Sintra lies on the eastern side of a range of | | | | Blazons room is possibly the most elaborate, with |
| mountains around 20 miles from Lisbon. | | | | the ceiling depicting the coats of arms of seventy |
| This area enjoys an almost tropical abundance of | | | | two noble families of eighteenth century Portugal. |
| luxuriant flora and rich vegetation. For this reason | | | | Huge pieces of Oriental porcelian and marbled |
| it has been made famous by poets and artists | | | | glass can also be found here, given to Queen |
| such as Byron who described it as a glorious Eden. | | | | Carlota Joaquina by the Emperor of China in 1806. |
| At the bottom of the mountain lies the small | | | | Above the museum stands Pena palace, towering |
| village of Sao Pedro because of the large | | | | over the south eastern side of the mountain |
| numbers of tourists, that Sintra attracts many of | | | | range. Originally this was the site of an early |
| the shops and cafes in Sao Pedro are rather | | | | monastery, it was remade into a palace in 1840. |
| more expensive than usual. However, a short | | | | The attempt to fuse Scottish Baronial style with |
| walk to the train station takes you to a number | | | | Moorish aesthetics was to the taste of Dom |
| of local restaurants and bars that are considerably | | | | Fernando II. Taking advantage of the exotic |
| cheaper. | | | | oddness of the architecture the 1996 TV mini |
| Scattered amongst the foliage, flowers and fauna | | | | series of Gullivers Travels was partly filmed here. |
| of the mountain, are a variety of opulent palaces | | | | The Moorish Castle dates back to the 8th |
| and castles in contrasting styles. The two huge | | | | Century and provide a sweeping view of the |
| oat house chimneys which can be seen from | | | | region. It is believed that the Castle was taken |
| miles around Sintra are part of the Royal Palace, | | | | from the Moors during King Sigurd of Norways |
| now a museum. | | | | crusade in the 12th Century. The castle has a |
| The huge kitchen from which the chimneys | | | | wonderfully romantic feel to it, although sufferers |
| ascend is one of the most interesting parts of the | | | | of vertigo may find the views from the summit a |
| museum, if simply to give an idea of the | | | | little frightening. |
| complexities of cooking for royalty. The chapel is | | | | Sintra is an excellent place to visit if you have a |
| surprisingly simple and uncluttered, combining | | | | passion for walking and rambling through beautiful |
| Moorish aesthetics with an almost Protestant | | | | countryside. Vast views of Cascais and Estoril and |
| sparseness. The Manueline room was created | | | | the estuary of the Tagus can be found within a |
| later than other rooms, and depicts the style | | | | short stroll around the many parts of the |
| associated with King Manuel, who also comissioned | | | | mountains. |
| the building of Jeronimos monastery in Belem. The | | | | |